A WOKINGHAM church is hosting a concert to celebrate Ukraine.
Wokingham Baptist Church’s Spring Concert – A Time of Hope, is designed to uplift with a range of cultural talents displayed by Ukrainians living in Wokingham.
It is also a fundraiser for Dnipro Hope Mission and for the local Ukrainian music community.
Visitors to the event will be able to experience Ukrainian dancing, singing, and music, with Ukrainian food and drink available to purchase during the interval.
Robin Scurlock from Wokingham Baptist Church said: “ This will be a wonderful and unusual concert of traditional Ukranian performances, demonstrating the distinctive culture of the nation and its people, with a variety of performances from amateur musicians, singers and dancers.
“We’re pleased to be able to support our local Ukrainian community, and we hope that having the opportunity to share their culture with the borough will help to sustain them.
“Wokingham Baptist Church has had a lot of contact with them during the three years they have been in Wokingham, helping them to negotiate services, and to learn the language.”
Robin, a violinist himself, had already met some of the musicians before when he took part in a string quartet with them at Reading Minster, to mark the anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
He then worked with the performers to put together a springtime concert for Wokingham.
“We want this to be a very positive experience,” he said.
“Spring is a time of hope, and that’s exactly what this concert is all about.”
The concert will include performances from dance groups Balamuty, and Zorya, choir Kryla, Theatre of Personality, a duet of violinists, musical numbers from little stars, and poetry from a Ukrainian author.
All proceeds will go to Dnipro Hope Mission, which provides services, funding and resources to its partners in Ukraine, helping to care for the sick, disabled, refugees and orphans, especially in Eastern Ukraine in the war-ravaged regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhe and Kherson.
The cultural event will take place at Wokingham Baptist Church, on Sunday, May 11, from 6.30pm until 9pm.
Tickets cost £5 for adults, and are free for accompanied children, with donations encouraged on the night.
For more information, visit Wokingham Baptist Church’s Facebook page, or log onto trybooking.com (search for Spring Concert – a Time Of Hope).
